http://news.en.autos.sympatico.msn.c...mentid=5160532


Ferrari Lightens Up with Mille Chili Concept

Revolutionary Changes plus New Hybrid Drivetrain

It seems like the green bug is infecting carmakers of every type and sort. The latest to be bitten is one of the most unlikely candidates, Ferrari. Recently, the Italian sports car and racing company showed off its FXX Mille Chili eco-friendly concept car at a conference, and spoke of the many technologies which it is developing for the future. Not surprisingly, weight is one of the areas in which Ferrari can improve; by reducing it, Ferrari would not only reduce consumption but would also enable the car to perform better. The name Mille Chili means 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lbs) in Italian, the car’s projected weight.


To get an idea about how serious Ferrari is about shaving weight, it’s essentially reinvented some key areas of automotive design. Instead of using additional spoilers, the car would feature active aerodynamics, jets that alter the airflow of the car, aiding in acceleration and braking. Instead of having an adjustable seat, the Mille Chili would possess an adjustable cockpit, where the seats and dashboard would shift to the right position for the driver. Ferrari says that the system would not only save weight, but also reduce the height and profile of the canopy, improving aerodynamics (and with it fuel consumption at one end and top speed at the other).


The Mille Chili also possesses a new type of hybrid drivetrain in a configuration we’ve never seen before. Where as most hybrid vehicles can be used to power a car, or assist it during acceleration, or under heavier loads, Ferrari’s version is attached directly to the transmission and is designed only to operate when the gearbox is changing gears. This would ensure that a constant supply of torque and power is present during the cog swapping, enabling the car to continue to build speed even when the throttle on the gasoline engine is cut. Because the electric portion would only be used at times during gearshifts, the size and weight of the battery pack could be substantially reduced, though the electric motor is said to be as powerful as 60 kW (by comparison, a Camry Hybrid makes 105 kW). There is no time frame established for the production of this device, although according to Ferrari this gearbox and electric motor combination could be ushered into production as early as 2012.


As an aside, the vehicle that was shown at the introduction was merely supposed to give attendees what the car might look like and to show how small a super-performance Ferrari could be. Unlike most Ferraris, which are composed of steel or aluminum, this one’s made out of wood and cardboard. The car looks like a hybrid between the Enzo supercar and the FXX test-bed. If you look closely at the wheels, their surfaces are flat and two-dimensional. Overall, it’s about three feet shorter than the Enzo, and due to the weight-saving components, is projected to weigh about 300 kg (600 lbs) less. We wouldn’t be surprised if, like on the current FXX test-bed race car, Ferrari invited current FXX or high-ranking owners to test the vehicles and receive feedback during its development.

 

Soooo, whatever happened to:

1. People looking to buy exotics aren't interested in saving gas mileage.
2. Hybrid is not a way to get more power.

 

this is to conform to the new EU emission standards that everyone automotive companies in EU have to follow

their overall emission have to be lowered
thats why Porsche and Ferrari are going hybrid

 

So it only works for less than 0.1 second during each gear shift? What a waste...why bother doing it at all then? This approach isn't gonna improve its emission rating or fuel economy much at all. If they are only after a smooth gear shift they might as well switch to CVT.

 

You guys are thinking too much of the typical hybrid system used in most cars today. Heavy, typically there for gas mileage and maybe a small performance boost too depending on the car.

This sounds like a much smaller probably less complex and lighter weight system that just acts as an assist. Think of it as, kinda like an electric supercharger, except it has nothing to do with the intake and attaches directly to the transmission.

It's only a hybrid system because it would be too much load to ask of a standard car's 12 volt electrical system to provide that much power on demand. Plus I guess grabbing power from something other than the alternator reduces power loss from the serpentine belt powered accessories on the gas motor.

 

How safe is a system like this?
Seems to me that any device that allowed torque to keep flowing and speed to increase could significantly lengthen stopping distances if you have to stop in a hurry. Of course, even with a system like this attached, the Ferrari Enzo has some of the best brakes on the planet.

 

they stress on saving weight, on a Hybrid? Battery is a chunk of weigh over there!
I really don't see how they will increase the performance by going hybird...
but who knows, we are talking about ferrari here.

 

I would definitely have to believe that the system would recognize the difference between accelerating and braking, and disengage or at least reach a neutral input point. Heck, maybe they'll have a way to use transmission/engine braking as a form of a electrical generator when the car is braking? An idea anyway.

From the description I'm going to guess that this battery is very small, light, low capacity (enough for maybe a single full throttle run or two) and very high output. Almost like a capacitor, but not quite...